This site is about my life growing up and growing older in Mathews County, a rural, water-bound community on the way to nowhere in particular.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Homecoming

Mr. C's T-bird

Friday was the Mathews Homecoming Parade, which included this stunning red Thunderbird convertible, owned by one of my very favorite Mathews County From Heres, Mr. Crosby.

Chesapeake Bay Son and J.

Chesapeake Bay Son escorted this very lovely young lady, who is Mr. Crosby's great-niece. CB Son and she have known each other since kindergarten, and I've known her family for over 30 years. I went to school with her father and graduated with her aunt. My father and her great-aunt were classmates at Mathews High. God, I love small towns. If you're confused, don't worry. You're very likely not alone. We Mathews folks have to establish and utter the links whether or not they make sense to anyone else. Thanks for your patience in this matter.

Speaking of 30 years and small towns, exactly 30 years ago this fall, I was riding down this very street in a Homecoming parade. A very nice young man named Earl was my escort. I reminisced with Earl's mother recently at a neighborhood party. I just thought I'd share that.

Also, those very same 30-years-ago homecoming festivities were referenced in a recent Gazette Journal Do You Remember article. Let me just say that once you've been mentioned in the Do You Remember section, you've got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. This section is right above the news from 100 years ago, or when people communicated via smoke signals.

Hello, Mathews Convalescent Center? Chesapeake Bay Woman is calling and would like to reserve a room close to the piano so she can at least hear the music and tap her foot against the bed rail during the sing alongs. Thanks.

MHS Cross Country Float

The parade included floats from most of the high school sports teams, including this one from the cross country team. I adore this truck.

Speaking of the cross country team, their last home meet is Wednesday at 4 at Beaverdam in Gloucester, fyi.

I have yet to attend a parade in Mathews that the young lady below didn't participate in. This is my friend Alda's daughter Betsy. She is just loaded with personality--and smiles. With a side order of extra personality. Plus.

Alda and I could write a book on our escapades down Port Haywood--when we were not much older than Miss Betsy is now. Her mother (also named Betsy) had a piano, and I recall more than one performance where I played the musical accompaniment to Alda's singing.

Thank goodness this was in the days before Facebook and You Tube. That's all I have to say about that.

Betsy

Later that evening, we attended the football game, where I proceeded to snap about 100 pictures--and only a handful turned out.

I guess you can call me a sentimental sap, and you'd be correct, but these pictures of her clutching his arm just make me well up with emotion.

11 comments:

Anonymous
said...

I have said it before--you have a gorgeous family--handsome young man in his suit, and the beautiful, beaming grandparents. Sorry that so man of your photos did not turn out, but your parade photos captured a lot of the spirit there. I am so impressed that the Rockin' blue truck was able to tow that huge trailer bed of youngsters( you can reserve a retirement home room for me, since I am using terms like "youngsters").I love your small town.LLC

Thanks for sharing these great parade and game pictures! Your son is so handsome, and I'm sure you were so proud as he rode in that beautiful car and walked across the football field. About the retirement home - I'll take a room also please!

Anything over 25 is an antique technically and I heard Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" on the Classic Rock station on Saturday. CBSon looks all grown up. It's amazing how fast that happens... We have senior night for field hockey coming up where Midge will be escorted on the field by me and then she'll sing the National Anthem... I'm hoping I don't get misty eyed

I stayed welled up the whole day (homecoming). I was an emotional popover, hope nobody noticed. Your "Home" room sounds good if you get to pick it, most don't. I want one near the snack machines (dream on).

We do live in Pleasantville and you see it at every parade. I feel lucky to wake up in such a place every day.

I LOVE that young lady's cloche hat .. how chic! And I do not think your parents ever age ... and if you need a letter of recommendation for that room by the piano, I'll be happy to write one .. tho I suspect by the time you need that room I'll be pushing up daisies.

Loved your photos of Homecoming. Your son is so handsome. My last high school homecoming was about 45 years ago, but I still remember how much fun it was. I think the greenhouse on the street behind us had a truck like that. Boy, the F-250 sure has changed!

As for everyone being related to everyone else, or everyone knowing everyone else plus what kids belonged to who (or is it whom?), I understand that too. I was afraid to even skip school on senior skip day because I knew someone would see me and call my parents.